coercive

adjective

co·​er·​cive kō-ˈər-siv How to pronounce coercive (audio)
: serving or intended to coerce
coercive power
coercive measures
coercively adverb
coerciveness noun

Examples of coercive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Given that Judge Arun Subramanian excluded all discussion about coercive control — the overall environment of controlling behavior that can have a coercive effect upon an abuse victim — from the trial, the jurors may not have had enough context to accept the prosecution’s framing of events. Aja Romano, Vox, 2 July 2025 Doubt over their testimony and the evidence presented, which did show gleeful texts to Combs, only hindered their ability to see the scenario as an example of coercive control, as prosecutors do . Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2025 His voice was deliberate and insistent, reinforcing the coercive atmosphere. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 2 July 2025 Eight women have come forward about abusive, coercive, or inappropriate relationships with Gaiman. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for coercive

Word History

Etymology

coerce + -ive

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coercive was circa 1600

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Cite this Entry

“Coercive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coercive. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

Legal Definition

coercive

adjective
co·​er·​cive kō-ˈər-siv How to pronounce coercive (audio)
1
: serving or intended to coerce
2
: resulting from coercion
to protect women from coercive intimacyKimberle Crenshaw

More from Merriam-Webster on coercive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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